Defeated

A unique examination of U.S. politics and history told through the lives and campaigns of the losing presidential candidates.

As time marches on, more political history seems to get lost in American schools and homes. But the policies and beliefs of presidential candidates provide a fascinating glimpse into the entire history of the United States.

In Defeated: Losing Presidential Candidates in American History, Martin Gitlin offers a unique and informative look at U.S. politics and history through the lives and campaigns of presidential hopefuls who are often overlooked because they lost their bid for the presidency. Each chapter profiles a losing candidate for a specific election-including third-party candidates who made an impact-and features an examination of key issues of the day, details of the election itself, and what happened to the candidate after their loss.

Covering every election from 1796 to 2024, Defeated provides invaluable insight into the policies and personalities of presidential candidates and the history of a nation.